Computer System Software and Communications Flashcards

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers fundamental concepts in computer system software, Linux and Windows commands, shell scripting, networking topologies, IP addressing, and web services.

System Software

Software responsible for managing hardware components and providing a platform for application software to run, including operating systems, utility programs, and device drivers.

Operating System (OS)

System software that manages computer hardware and software resources and provides an interface between users and the system.

Utility Programs

Programs that help in system maintenance, such as antivirus software and disk cleanup tools.

Firmware

Embedded software in hardware devices, specifically illustrated by the BIOS in a computer.

Batch OS

A type of operating system that executes tasks in batches without requiring user interaction.

Real-Time OS (RTOS)

An operating system used in critical systems, such as medical devices, where timing is crucial.

GUI

Graphical User Interface, as opposed to the command-line interface (CLI).

touch

A Linux command used to create an empty file.

chmod +x

A Linux command used to make a specific file executable.

whoami

A user management command that shows the current user.

ifconfig

A networking command (deprecated in favor of ip a) used to show the IP address of a system.

Shell Scripting (Bash)

The process of automating tasks in Linux by running multiple commands in a single script using the Bash shell.

Cron Jobs

A method used in Linux for scheduling scripts to run at set intervals.

Simplex

A data transmission type where data flows in one direction only, such as from a keyboard to a computer.

Half-Duplex

A data transmission type where data flows in both directions, but not simultaneously, like walkie-talkies.

Full-Duplex

A data transmission type where data flows in both directions simultaneously, such as phone calls.

TCP/IP

The foundational protocol suite for the internet, standing for Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol.

Star Topology

A network topology where all devices are connected to a central hub or switch.

Mesh Topology

A network topology where every device is interconnected in a grid-like fashion, providing high reliability.

Bandwidth

The maximum data rate supported by a network or transmission medium, such as $100\,Mbps$.

Throughput

The actual data transfer rate achieved in a network.

LAN (Local Area Network)

A network connecting devices within a small geographical area, offering high-speed transfer up to $1\,Gbps$ or more.

MAN (Metropolitan Area Network)

A network that spans across a city or a large campus, connecting multiple LANs together.

WAN (Wide Area Network)

The largest type of network spanning countries or continents, the Internet being the most prominent example.

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Network

A decentralized network where every device acts as both a client and a server, sharing resources directly.

IPv4

A common IP address version using 4 sets of numbers ranging from $0$ to $255$, supporting around $4.3$ billion unique addresses.

IPv6

A newer IP address version using 8 sets of hexadecimal numbers to support trillions of unique addresses.

Subnet Mask

A definition of how much of an IP address is used for the network and how much is for the device, such as $255.255.255.0$.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)

A protocol that automatically assigns IP addresses to devices in a network to prevent IP conflicts.

NAT (Network Address Translation)

A process used in routers that allows multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address.

DNS (Domain Name System)

The 'phonebook of the internet' that translates domain names like google.com into IP addresses like $142.250.190.78$.

VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A service that encrypts internet connections and hides the user's IP address to ensure privacy and security.

Router

A device that directs network traffic between different networks and assigns IP addresses using DHCP.

World Wide Web (WWW)

A service on the internet used to access webpages and websites using HTTP/HTTPS.

Web Server

A computer that stores and delivers websites when requested by a browser, with examples like Apache, Nginx, and Microsoft IIS.